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Jeff Bingaman: Quiet, strong voice for New Mexico

Posted:
12/24/2012 06:07:38 PM MST

For 26 years, New Mexico was served by one of the most experienced and well-respected delegations in the U.S. Senate.

Pete Domenici, a Republican, was first elected to the Senate in 1973 and served through 2009. Jeff Bingaman, a Democrat, was elected a decade later and remained for 30 years before giving up his seat at the close of this session. Though they represented different parties, Bingaman and Domenici always put their constituents and their state first. And New Mexico was well served by their leadership and advocacy.

Thirty years after first taking the oath of office, Bingaman leaves a Congress hopelessly divided along party and ideological lines and seemingly unable to prevent the nation from going over the so-called fiscal cliff of massive tax hikes and spending cuts looming on Jan. 1.

"When Jeff came to the Senate 30 years ago, this was a different place," said Sen. Tom Udall. who filled the seat occupied by Domenici. "Folks worked together. They clashed, but they also compromised.

"We all know what has happened since then. Washington has become more and more polarized. But time and again Jeff Bingaman has been a voice of reason."

A quiet voice of reason at that. Bingaman's style of governing has never been confrontational or combative. After three decades in the Senate, most people living outside of New Mexico still probably couldn't recognize him.

That's because Bingaman has always tried to work behind the scenes to forge compromise rather than rush to the TV cameras with a new accusatory sound bite each day.

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As chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, Bingaman has held a leading role in crafting energy policy and protecting public lands. He is also one of the top-ranking Democrats on both the Finance and the Health, Education Labor and Pensions committees.

Bingaman was first elected to public office in 1978 when, at age 34, he was voted attorney general of New Mexico. From that post, he went on to defeat Harrison Schmitt to win his first Senate term in 1982.

Now 67, Bingaman has earned his retirement. He has not laid out exactly what he intends to do next, but we expect he will remain involved in public policy, much like Domenici has done with his annual conference at NMSU.

For three decades, New Mexico voters have placed their confidence in Bingaman, and for three decades he has worked to reward that decision. Our nation, and certainly our state, are better off for his service.

We offer our gratitude and best wishes for whatever challenges he takes on next.